A Philadelphia-based architecture firm has earned prestigious national recognition for its role in shaping the city's vibrant restaurant landscape. Stokes Architecture and Design was recently named to Forbes' inaugural list of America's Top Hospitality Architects and Designers, becoming the only Philadelphia firm to receive this honor among 100 selected companies nationwide.
For over 25 years, Stokes Architecture and Design has been the creative force behind dozens of Philadelphia's most celebrated dining establishments. The firm has designed interiors for Michelin Star-winning restaurants, Stephen Starr's empire of eateries, and even entertainment venues like Wildwood's Morey's Piers. Their impressive portfolio includes Friday Saturday Sunday, Provenance, Kalaya, Bardea Steak, The Dandelion, and Talula's Garden, among many others.
Lance Saunders, the design director overseeing the firm's 12 employees, attributes their success to a unique approach that treats design as storytelling. "You're thinking about how they're interacting with the space – what they're touching, what they're seeing, what they're feeling," Saunders explained. "We're kind of telling a story. But, at the same time we're pretty collaborative with our clients." This theatrical approach transforms each client's vision into an immersive visitor experience.
The firm's design philosophy is exemplified in their work on Borromini, Stephen Starr's newest Rittenhouse restaurant. The space draws heavy inspiration from traditional Roman trattorias while highlighting the historical features of the Alison building through vaulted ceilings and intricate murals. "We wanted to give it some drama in that case... and to make that space feel a little bit special since it was lacking immediate connection to the park," Saunders noted about the restaurant's windowless back section.
In 2023, Stokes took on the challenge of refurbishing Friday Saturday Sunday, one of three Philadelphia restaurants to earn a Michelin star last month. The project involved redesigning both the restaurant and its Lovers Bar, emphasizing what Saunders describes as a "colonial-meets-Hollywood-regency style" while paying homage to the owners' originality. "What I wanted to do was to kind of get in the mind of a diner there and figure out how to make that space a little bit more harmonious," he said. "The whole idea there was how they do this elevated take on French dining with all of co-owner Chad Williams' influence there. I just wanted to make this beautiful French-inspired salon-style dining room."
Forbes compiled its prestigious list by evaluating portfolios from hundreds of finalists across multiple criteria, including artistry and craft, materials selection, and siting – how a building's location is incorporated into the design. For their submission, Stokes showcased their work on Enswell, the upscale Rittenhouse restaurant and coffee-cocktail bar located at 1528 Spruce Street.
"I think when you look at our work and you think about Philadelphia's dining scene, our name is attached to a lot of these restaurants," Saunders reflected. "We have a variety of work, it's not just brasseries. We've done cafes, hotels, office buildings... I think our portfolio is interesting in a way that makes us really unique." This versatility has allowed the firm to work across different sectors while maintaining their signature storytelling approach.
As Philadelphia prepares for increased national attention during the country's 250th anniversary celebration next year, Saunders hopes the city's creative spirit will continue gaining recognition. He believes Philadelphia's resourceful approach to design has fostered an elevated sense of creativity that's now receiving broader acknowledgment, particularly with the recent arrival of Michelin stars in the city.
Stokes continues to expand their influence on Philadelphia's dining scene with current projects including Banshee, a new bistro opening December 11th in the former Tio Flores space at 1600 South Street. "There's so many cool things coming up in Philadelphia that are very bootstrapped," Saunders observed. "That's bred this elevated sense of creativity in Philadelphia for all of these years. Now, with the Michelin stars here, it's a whole new step up."
